Apparatus for demonstrating reflecting properties of surface finishes



Nov. 26, 1935. E. L. CANFIELD 2,022,402

APPARATUS FOR DEMONSTRATING REFLECTING PROPERTIES OF SURFACE FINISHESFiled Nov. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 42 5+ Ea L. Can/laid ATTORNEY Nov.26, 1935. E. L. CANFIELD 2,022,402

APPARATUS FOR DEMONSTRATING REFLECTING PROPERTIES OF SURFACE FINISHESFiled Nov. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Shea't 2 INVENTOR Earl L.

Can/zeld BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov 26, 1935 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FORDEMONSTRATING RE- FLECTING PROPERTIES OF SURFACE FINISHES Earl L.Capiield, Hillside, N. J. Application November 24, 1933, Serial No.699,546

4 Claims. (Cl. 35-40) The present invention relates to apparatus fordemonstrating reflecting properties of surface finishes.

The distribution of light in indirect lighting, either by pendantlighting fixtures or by wall fixtures, or by floor torchere, or otherforms of shaded lighting equipment, involves the reflection of the lightby some reflecting medium.

Where the fixture itself does not provide the re- 10 fiecting mediumreliance is placed on the wall and ceiling finish of the room.

While the knowledge that some wall finishes absorb more light thanothers is more or less general, there has heretofore been nosatisfactory way for one to demonstrate the relative advantages ofvarious wall finishes from the point of view of light control. Thesewall finishes have been selected largely on account of color or texture,but laboratory tests may readily be made 20 to show that lightreflecting properties cannot be properly judged from the color, texture,and appearance of the finish.

It has heretofore been practically impossible for the general public toacquire any knowledge 25 on this subject and hence whenever a selectionof ceiling and wall finishes is made for a room the matter of lightcontrol has been generally ignored.

According to the present invention one is enabled to readily determine,in a device simulatinga room, the relative reflecting properties ofceiling and wall finishes.

According to the present invention one is able to measure the lightreceived at a definite point 35 in a simulation of a room having wallsand celling formed by panels bearing the wall and ceiling finishes whichit is desired to test. These panels may be readily changed withoutchanging the light source dimen ions or position of the measuringinstrument so that the only variables encountered by the light areembodied in these wall and ceiling finishes.- By changing from one setof conditions to another the relative value of the various wall finishesis easily demonstrated.

The demonstration of these phenomena may be carried out in acomparatively large apparatus, but inasmuch as such apparatus would notbe easily portable, the present invention contemplates a design ofapparatus adaptable for this purpose. It is small enough to beconveniently portable and it is designed to be collapsible so as tooccupy but small space when not in use.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, one 01' the many embodiments in which the invention may takeform, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of theinvention rather than limiting the same. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view through a complete outfit showing the partsassembled for use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure of Fig. 1, portions being insection on the broken line Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentarysectional views showing details appearing also in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating structure of Fig. 1 partlycollapsed; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating the structhe ture completelycollapsed.

In the drawings a miniature luminair is indicated at It. It may be inthe form of a small lamp bulb II and reflector l2.

The enclosure simulating a room is formed by four vertical wall panelsl3, l4, l5, and IS, a cover panel l1, and a bottom 25.

The light measuring instrument is indicated at 20. This instrument ispreferably in the form of a battery-less photo-electric cell connectedto a direct reading indicator whereby light intensities may be directlyread. Such an instrument is shown in my application for patent SerialNo. 689,705, filed September 16, 1933. This instrument receives lightfrom the luminair by reflection from the ceiling-simulating panel I1 andthe wall-simulating panels l3, l4, l5, and Hi. The 55 intensity ofillumination in foot candles may be directly indicated and shows theresults produced by the particular wall and ceiling finish employed.Should the ceiling finish or the wall finish be changed, a differentreading would appear on the instrument, so that one could judge therelative value of these finishes. One of these panels, such for exampleas the panel I3, is provided with a window or opening, as shown, so thatthe meter can be observed from outside with substantially all extraneouslight cut off by the panels.

In its simplest form the present invention may be embodied in astructure having any suitable means for supporting the luminair, theinstruo ment, and the wall and ceiling panels. In the drawings acollapsible box is shown for this purpose.

The box has a front wall-forming member 2|,

9. rear wall-forming member 22, end wall-i'orm-.

ing members 23 and 24, a bottom forming member 25,. and a cover 23. Theside wall members 23 and 24 are each made in two parts, 23a, 23b and24a, 24b, respectively. These wall-forming parts are preferably made ofthin wood, such as multiple ply veneer. They are covered on both sidesby cloth covering such as indicated by the letter C. This covering ispreferably black. This acts not only to cover and reinforce the wood butprovides hinges to secure the various parts together. The bottom wall 25is secured to the lower part of the front wall by a cloth hingeindicated at 30, Fig. 5. The side walls 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b are connectedtogether and to the ends of the front and rear walls by hinges formed ofcloth, indicated at 3|, 32, and 33. The cover is secured by a clothhinge indicated at 34, Fig. 5.

When the box is in expanded position, the right hand edge of the bottom25 rests on an angle 35 carried by the lower edge of the rear box wall22. It passes down by the inner faces of the walls 23 and 24 so as tokeep them straightened out in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.The cover 28 hangs down behind the rear wall, as indicated in thedrawings.

To collapse the box the bottom wall is swung upwardly, as indicated indot and dash lines in Fig. 5, to bring it up behind the front panel l3.The side walls are then folded inwardly, as will be clear from Fig. 6,and then the entire structure collapsed to the position shown in Fig. 7.It will be noted that the hinge lines 32 are spaced back far enoughbehind the rear face of the front wall 2| to accommodate the bottom wall25.

The front and rear walls of the box are provided with a plurality ofgrooves near the ends as indicated at 36, these grooves being adapted toreceive end wall simulating panels l4, l4 and I 6, l 6'. These panelsmay be provided with beads as indicated at 38 to assist in holding therear wall simulating panel IS in place. The front wall simulating panelI 3 maybe readily held in place by clips indicated at 39 and 40, Fig. 5.The cover 26 is provided with hinge catch members 4| adapted to snap onto pins 42 carried by the front box wall 2i. The luminair I0 is hereshown as being supported on an angle bracket 43 adapted to be slipped inbehind a strap 44 carried by the front box wall 2!.

The form of collapsible box just described facili-- tates the making ofthe demonstration, for it can be easily expanded to full size and mayreceive a number of room and ceiling panels I 4 and I6. These panels maybe provided with different forms of wall finishes on opposite faces sothat with four panels a demonstration of eight wall finishes may bemade. The front wall panel may be left in place if desired.

A different rear wall panel may be readily substituted as one can bepicked out and the other one readily put in place. A ceiling panel I!may be rested on top of the other panel so as to cut off extraneouslight and direct the light downwardly, as customary in indirectlighting. To show the effect of different ceiling finishes withoutchange of wall finish, the substitution of different panels may be veryquickly made. When the box is extended to its full size, and the variouspanels in place, the cover may be closed down onto the top of the boxand hooked in place so that the box can be carried by the strap,indicated at 45.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there has been provided asimple arrangement capable of easy use in demonstrating the relativereflecting properties of various forms of wall and ceiling finish. Asalesman can more intelligently advise a customer as to the type offinish which would give the best light control.

It is, of course, obvious that other'forms of lighting equipment can beused instead of the 5 miniature indirect lighting luminair illustratedin the drawings. If direct lighting is desired, the reflector may beremoved. Ifan enclosed unit is desired, a small opal globe may be placedabout the light source. If lighting from a floor torchere iscontemplated, the light source may be in the form of a small model of a,floor lamp carried by the floor of the box.

Where the problem involves demonstrating the effect of wall finisheswhere the light source is 15 colored, a miniature colored light sourcemay be substituted for the more common transparent or translucent bulb.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied 'in many forms andconstructions within 20 the scope of the claims, and I wish it to beunderstood that the partlcular form shown is but one of the many forms.Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not limit myselfin any way with respect thereto, except as necessi- 25 tated by theprior art and the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible box for paint demonstration outfits, comprising a frontwall member, a bottom wall member hinged to the lower edge of 30 thefront wall member and movable to lie flat against the rear face of thefront wall member,

a rear wall member having at the bottom thereof a rigid, forwardlyextending support to receive the free edge of the bottom wall member,and two-part end wall forming members, the parts of each end wallforming member being hinged together and to the adjacent front and rearwall members so as to be foldable inwardly whereby they may be broughtbehind the upwardly folded 40' bottom wall member, and the rear wallmember be brought close behind the end wall forming members, the wallforming members when unfolded extending past the ends of the bottom wallmember when in lowered position to prevent 45 unfolding.

2. A collapsible box for paint demonstration outfits as claimed in claim1, wherein the front and rear walls are provided with grooves to receivepanels inside the end forming walls.

3. A collapsible box as claimed in claim 1, having a cover member hingedto the upper edge of one of the first two mentioned wall members so asto hang downward therefrom behind the rear wall, and foldable over ontop of the box 55 walls when the box is unfolded.

4. A collapsible box for paint demonstration outfits, having rigid frontand rear wall forming members, rigid top and bottom forming members,hinge means connecting the top member to the upper edge of one of thewall forming members, hinge means for connecting the bottom member tothe lower edge of the other wall forming member, the lower edge of thewall member to which the top member is secured having a ledge to supportthe free edge of the bottom member, and two part end wall formingmembers, the parts of each of the end wall forming members beinghingedly secured together along their adjacent edges, their oppositeedges being secured to the 70 side edges of the front and rear wallforming members, whereby the box may be collapsed to bring the variousmembers into parallel relation one behind the other.

' EARL L. CANFIELD. 75

